Xia, Shang, & Zhou Dynasties Xia, Shang, & Zhou Dynasties

Yellow River Civilization

The 4 Old-World River Valley Cultures

Pan-Gu: Mythical Creator of the Universe

“Chung Kuo” (The “Middle Kingdom”)

Bronze Age Empires

Shang: BCE

Oracle Bones

Oracle Bones Calendar

The Evolution of Chinese Writing during the Shang PictographsSemantic-Phonetics

Shan g Urn

Shang Bronzes

“T’ien Ming” The Mandate of Heaven 1.The leader must lead by ability and virtue. 2.The dynasty's leadership must be justified by succeeding generations. 3.The mandate could be revoked by negligence and abuse; the will of the people was important.

The Dynastic Cycle A new dynasty comes to power. Lives of common people improved; taxes reduced; farming encouraged. Problems begin (extensive wars, invasions, etc.) Taxes increase; men forced to work for army. Farming neglected. Govt. increases spending; corruption. Droughts, floods, famines occur. Poor loose respect for govt. They join rebels & attack landlords. Rebel bands find strong leader who unites them. Attack the emperor. Emperor is defeated !! The emperor reforms the govt. & makes it more efficient. Start here 

Western Zhou: BCE

Eastern Zhou: BCE

* 551 – 479 B.C.E. * Born in the feudal state of Liu. * Became a teacher and editor of books.

Li --> Rite, rules, ritual decorum (Binding force of an enduring stable society) Ren --> humaneness, benevolence, humanity Shu --> Reciprocity, empathy Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you. Yi --> Righteousness Xiao --> Filial Piety (Respect your elders!)

1. Ruler Subject 2. Father Son 3. Husband Wife 4. Older Brother Younger Brother 5. Older Friend Younger Friend

* Status * Age * Gender

* The single most important Confucian work. * In Chinese, it means “conversation.” * Focus on practicalities of interpersonal relationships and the relationship of the role of rulers and ministers to the conduct of government.

* Knowing what he knows and knowing what he doesn’t know, is characteristics of the person who knows. * Making a mistake and not correcting it, is making another mistake. * The superior man blames himself; the inferior man blames others. * To go too far is as wrong as to fall short.

* The emperor is the example of proper behavior --> “big daddy” * Social relationships are based on “rites” or “rituals.” * Even religious rituals are important for SOCIAL, not religious reasons, acc. to Confucius.

* 280? B.C.E. * Han Fe Zi. * Lived during the late Warring States period. * Legalism became the political philosophy of the Qin [Ch’in] Dynasty.

1. Human nature is naturally selfish. 2. Intellectualism and literacy is discouraged. 3. Law is the supreme authority and replaces morality. 4. The ruler must rule with a strong, punishing hand. 5. War is the means of strengthening a ruler’s power.

One who favors the principle that individuals should obey a powerful authority rather than exercise individual freedom. The ruler, therefore, “cracks his whip” on the backs of his subjects!

* Not sure when he died. [604 B.C.E. - ?] * His name means “Old Master” * Was he Confucius’ teacher?

* The basic text of Daoism. * In Chinese, it means The Classic in the Way and Its Power. * “Those who speak know nothing: Those who know are silent.” These words, I am told, Were spoken by Laozi. If we are to believe that Laozi, Was himself one who knew, How is it that he wrote a book, Of five thousand words?

1. Dao [Tao] is the first-cause of the universe. It is a force that flows through all life. 2. A believer’s goal is to become one with Dao; one with nature. [“The butterfly or the man?” story.] 3. Wu wei --> “Let nature take its course.” --> “The art of doing nothing.” --> “Go with the flow!” 4. Man is unhappy because he lives acc. to man-made laws, customs, & traditions that are contrary to the ways of nature.

1. Rejecting formal knowledge and learning. 2. Relying on the senses and instincts. 3. Discovering the nature and “rhythm” of the universe. 4. Ignoring political and social laws. To escape the “social, political, & cultural traps” of life, one must escape by:

* Masculine * Active * Light * Warmth * Strong * Heaven; Sun * Feminine * Passive * Darkness * Cold * Weak * Earth; Moon

How is a man to live in a world dominated by chaos, suffering, and absurdity?? Confucianism --> Moral order in society. Legalism --> Rule by harsh law & order. Daoism --> Freedom for individuals and less govt. to avoid uniformity and conformity.